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Hey! I'm Beth, the DC-based blogger behind Beth's Journey. I write about all things weight loss, healthy living, and Weight Watchers and am currently on a mission to get back to Lifetime! I hope you find inspiration, ideas, and recipes as you browse. Thanks for stopping by!

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So clearly I am very out of practice with the whole making a video blog thing. It took me more than 7 tries of stumbling over my words and saying extremely weird and random things in order to get it as right as it’s going to be. Here we go.

So in case you can’t watch the video because you’re at work – in it I do make a pretty big announcement about my weight. In the end of 2012, I had a full physical exam with my doctor and was talking with her about my weight and the history there. She asked me lots of questions, took a lot of measurements, and recommended that I set a higher goal weight than what Weight Watchers told me was the highest healthy weight for my height of 5’8.

The doc wrote me a note that I passed along to my Weight Watchers boss recommending that I maintain 175-180 as my goal weight. Weight Watchers says you can’t have a BMI higher than 27 as your goal weight, so we reset my weight goal to 177 pounds. I weighed in yesterday at 178.4, which was .4 down from not quite a week before. That means, I am within 2 pounds of my goal weight for the first time in… I can’t even remember how long! Granted, it is a completely different (and much higher) goal, but still.

I am feeling really great about the fact that I no longer have pressure from anyone except me to lose the weight. As I mentioned in my 2013 Intentions post, I really want to use this year to focus on getting to, and staying at, my happy weight. I think 164, my original goal weight, is just too low for me to reasonably maintain. That said, I would definitely like to lose a few more pounds and get to a place where my body, mind, and life just feel… good.

The big difference is that now I am going to keep doing this for ME. I am the reason I started this in the first place, and doing it for me is the only way I can truly stay committed to the long term habits I need to stay healthy. I plan to continue to weigh in weekly as I go through this new phase of my journey with weight, and want to keep doing video weigh ins as I plug along and find my happy place.

Thanks for all your support and for bearing with me through the ups and downs – I really value each and every one of you! Yes, YOU!

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34 Comments on Wednesday Weight Update

Katherine

January 9, 2013 at 9:22 am (6 years ago)

Thanks for this post, Beth. I often struggle with this myself. I am about 5-7 pounds above my lowest weight and have had a very difficult time getting back there. I did maintain it for about 2 months as well. Most of my clothes fit the same and I still FEEL good, it’s just the mental block of feeling like you should be where you were before and seeing that number. You see people diet and get down to a size 2 and seem as though they have no problem staying there, so it’s such a tough mindgame! I’m sure that your mind, body, soul, and weight will be much more content with this decision!

Beth

January 9, 2013 at 1:08 pm (6 years ago)

Hey Katherine – thanks for your comment! It is a tough mental battle to accept that you are not at the lowest weight you have been, but at the same time, I don’t want to have to fight against my body all for a number. I’m also an 8/10/sometimes 12 depending on the day, and I feel like that’s a good size for someone my height, regardless of the number on the scale!

Congrats at almost being at goal!
I am 5’8″ as well and I’ve never (in my adult and teenage) life weighed under 200lbs. At my lowest I was 214lbs and people thought I weighed much less than that because I carry my weight all over. Because of this, I have no idea what my goal weight would be, but I really think 140-150 will be too low. I’m glad to see that your doctor recommends the 170’s for you as it gives me a rough idea for myself. I know everyone is different, but it helps to hear other peoples experiences.

Beth

January 9, 2013 at 1:12 pm (6 years ago)

Hey Bailey! It is hard to imagine what you’ll look like when you haven’t been at a certain weight.. ever. For a while there I thought 150 would be my goal, but even at 164 I felt pretty “skinny” so I can’t even IMAGINE what I would look like at that weight! It’s soooo easy to get caught up in the numbers, but now I feel like I was granted the freedom to move away from that a bit and focus more on how I feel. I’m excited!

Beth

My Weight Watchers dictated goal weight (top of the BMI chart for 5’3″) is 141lbs, and I’m really starting to feel discouraged that I’ll ever even get to that point. And if I do manage to get that low, I’m really not confident I can maintain it. The last time I vaguely remember weighing 140lbs was somewhere in high school when I was on the swim team when all I had time for outside of school was swimming, homework and sleeping.

I’ve been considering asking my doctor for a note (so thanks for the tip about max BMI for a goal weight being 27!), but I don’t see her again until August. I have a question though, can i make my goal a weight I’m currently at? If I get down to 150lbs, which is what I think my happy weight is, and maintain that until I finally see my doctor, can I have her make that my goal weight even though I’m already at it?

Beth

January 9, 2013 at 1:14 pm (6 years ago)

Hey Stina – Good question and luckily the answer is yes! You can make your goal weight a number you are already at – I’ve had members do that lots of times. The only thing is the day you decide on your goal weight is the day that maintenance will technically start, so you’ll have to maintain that weight for 6 weeks (within 2 lbs up OR down), and then you can become a Lifetime member. If you go more than 2 lbs above or below that in the six weeks, they will probably make you reset your goal. Hope that helps!

sarah

January 9, 2013 at 9:53 am (6 years ago)

Hi Beth,

This is a very interesting post for me as I’m also 5’8 and have struggled with a goal weight. At my highest, I was 206 pounds, managed to get down to 159 pounds through WW and am now at about 170 pounds, but would love to get down to 160 again.

Could I ask you what your measurements are? I’m very pear shaped, 34-28-41, all the weight is on my hips. Am just interested to know what other peoples measurements are at similar heights.

It’s so amazing to see how irrelevant the number on the scales is, when people of the same height have such different happy weights!

Beth

January 9, 2013 at 1:17 pm (6 years ago)

Hi Sarah – I honestly don’t know what my measurements are at the moment, but I did take them at the beginning of November. I am usually a size 10, sometimes an 8 or a 12 depending on how things run. I think I’m probably more of an hourglass shape. My measurements were 34-33-41 so looks like we are similar except I have no waist! haha.

Pattie

January 9, 2013 at 9:55 am (6 years ago)

Thanks for the update! I like that you wrote a little too because I am at work and can’t watch the video 🙁
I am so happy you talked to your doctor and got a note! I think WW puts too much emphasis on BMI. Good luck on getting to your now attainable and maintainable happy weight!!

Beth

January 9, 2013 at 1:18 pm (6 years ago)

Hi Pattie – thanks for your comment! I am sooooo glad too. It removes SO MUCH pressure, and I am excited to shift the focus to getting somewhere I can maintain, rather than to a number someone else tells me!

Lori

January 9, 2013 at 9:59 am (6 years ago)

Congratulations, Beth! I have no doubt you’ll reach your goal very soon! You’re an inspiration to so many. It’s good to know that hopefully my doctor can change my goal weight as well. I hope to one day work for WW as a receptionist but my goal weight is set at 139-174 and I’m 5’10”!! Right now, at 203, 174 seems so far away and unattainable…sigh……and a little unrealistic.
To even apply for a job at WW, you have to be within 10 lbs of your goal. But I’m hangin’ in there. I’ve lost 30 so far so I’m more than halfway there. Thank you for posting your struggles and triumphs!! It’s good to know we’re all in this together!!

Beth

January 9, 2013 at 1:20 pm (6 years ago)

Hi Lori – Congrats on all your success so far! Over 30 lbs?! That’s incredible! Since 174 feels so far away, don’t focus on that yet! First focus on getting into onederland, then the next five, etc. It’s the same rule in my area – to be within 10 lbs to be a receptionist, and to be Lifetime to be a leader – so I hear ya. I’m sure you will make an incredible receptionist one day SOON! 🙂

Beth

This is such an awesome post. I think it’s completely normal to settle a few pounds above goal weight. The lowest weight you can achieve is not necessarily the weight you can maintain, and after weight loss, our bodies send tons of signals prompting us to regain the weight! I feel like most people who have never struggled with their weight falsely assume our bodies want to be skinny, when actually it’s quite the opposite. You have lost and kept off a tremendous amount of weight, and you are undeniably in great health. What more could you want! I am still losing weight, but I already know I want to settle quite a bit higher than BMI would recommend. I’m 5’6″, and 165-170 is totally my happy weight. That might be a lot on someone else, but for me, that’s a size 8/10 and I look and feel great. I am still really far from that goal, but I will keep working until I get there. Congrats on taking this step toward accepting yourself–you look awesome and sound so much happier than you did in previous weigh-in vlogs!

Beth

January 9, 2013 at 1:22 pm (6 years ago)

Hi Lauren – Thanks for your feedback! I didn’t even notice that I sounded happier in this one than the others, but that’s great to hear. I know it’s WEIGHT watchers, so weight is obviously important, but lifestyle is much more important in my book. I do feel healthy and when people hear how much weight I’ve lost and didn’t know me “before” they are always shocked. The other day one of my coworkers said, “I just thought you were always skinny!” Skinny!? Ha!

Didn’t mean to imply you’d been negative at all. You just sound so positive and excited about moving forward, and relieved that you don’t have to worry about jeopardizing your job even though you’re working so hard. 🙂

Beth

Hurrah! Good for you, Beth. After fighting – really, honestly battling – to stay in the high 180s a few years ago, I knew for me that WW’s goal and mine were a bit diff. There was just no way I was ever going to lose another 20 poudns! Now I’d kill to be back there! And I know I will. My personal goal is like 185. I’d make that work for life!

Beth

January 9, 2013 at 1:24 pm (6 years ago)

Hi Gwen!! It’s tough when we feel like we are fighting against ourselves, and for what? So the scale says something different? 5 pounds on someone my size isn’t that noticeable because it’s usually pretty spread out – and if that means I can’t ever have a drink with friends or fries instead of salad on occasion, I’m not sure I even WANT to weigh 5 lbs less!

Congrats on being so close Beth! I am 5’8″ as well, and my goal at the moment is to shoot for 150- I’m at 200 now give or take a few tenths so will probably re-evalute at about 170, as I honestly have no idea where I really should be. Its been so long since I wasn’t fat! LOL

Good for you for working with your doctor on getting your weight maintenance set. Your doctor is the only one who has access to your lab work and can access your family history to access your personal risk.

This is my third time at a normal weight. And 11 months at my longest time at weight maintnence. This time around , I did choose to go middle of my BMI. Mostly because of how I felt, menopause ( I’m 46) and family history ( my mom is my height and frame).

Glad you are doing for you and with help from your doc.

Watch the carbs , fruits. The longer I spend in weight maintnence, the tighter my carb and calorie windows are for loss , maintain , and gain. Tricky stuff! But worth the effort. I’m healthier physically and mentally than I’ve ever been in my whole life

WW used to work great for me, but the missing link was watching my carbs and trigger foods. I still go to the meetings for support from other maintainers.

Glad you’ve reached this place and are free to unbuckle and move about the cabin , so to speak- LOL.

Beth

January 15, 2013 at 9:26 am (6 years ago)

Hi Karen! Thank you. It does feel good to have the pressure peeled off, even though I do want to get a bit lower than where I am now. I definitely notice that when I pay attention to carbs my weight goes down, so that’s a great suggestion. This all just goes to show – we can NEVER stop trying if we want to maintain our weight loss!

Karen

Beth

January 15, 2013 at 9:32 am (6 years ago)

Hi Karen – You are welcome! It feels good to be back in the swing of doing them. I’m going to try to do the weight updates twice a month (ish) and share some insight I’ve learned about myself and my weight over the course of trying to find my happy weight!

This is a really great way of documenting your progress and to also help keep you motivated. Although I think you would be motivated without it but for a new person trying to lose weight a blog to keep updated would be a great idea! Thanks for sharing Beth 🙂